Los Angeles Police Department Cocked & Locked

By John Farnam

 Chief of the LAPD, Charlie Beck, with a 1911 pistol
Chief of the LAPD, Charlie Beck, demonstrates a 1911 pistol
Defense Training International, Inc
Defense Training International, Inc

Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- “How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese?” ~ Charles de Gaulle

Full Circle!

Popular Chief of the LAPD, Charlie Beck, was photographed today carrying on his waist a (are you ready for this?) 1911 pistol, with hammer in full-cock position!

Recruits entering the famous LAPD Academy, as little as thirty years ago. were told sternly that the 1911 pistol was:

  • Excessively dangerous
  • Could not be safely carried “cocked & locked”
  • Unreliable
  • Prone to NDs
  • Shot a bullet that was “too fat”
  • Preferred by criminals and other low-life. Certainly not a proper “police ” gun!

.. all so recruits wouldn’t want a copy for themselves.

Well, how do you do?

How things change, including philosophies, within thirty years, eh?

When I was a pre-teen, I was told Limburger cheese was so pungent as to be virtually inedible, so I never tried it. Today, my grandchildren love it. I guess they didn’t get the same memo!

Experienced Operators can’t help but develop personal weapon preferences, but we all need to be comfortable, safe, and competent with any gun we get our hands on, no matter how foreign or “obsolete!”

“It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense!” ~ Mark Twain

/John

About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent and unlawful lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance, if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.

It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com

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DB

Because that is not Chief Beck, that is legendary LAPD SWAT officer Mike Odle who has carried a 1911 for decades.

CDMorrissy

The Chief is wearing Corporal stripes, so what the hell is going on here?

BillCa

When I was training for an LE career almost 40 years ago, many of the 1911’s WERE unreliable with the existing JHP ammo unless you paid a gunsmith to polish and throat the gun. Today, thankfully, it’s done at the factory. Semi-autos were just coming of age then. I still preferred the intimidation factor of my 6-inch Colt Trooper Mk III. Of course today my personal carry guns vary, but a 1911 tends to get the nod quite a bit. It’s good to see LAPD embrace the 1911 though.

brian winters

I used to fire the 1911 until due to loss of sensation in my fingertips a 7lb pull with take still yielded uninteentiona discharges. all my glocks have ny plus trigger at 12 lbs. No bullet went anywhere except downrange when shooting but still 1911s are not safe for me.

Chuck

If you know what you are talking about, that should be locked and cocked, not the other way.

Janek

Are they still ‘civilian legal’ in California?

TSgt B

Of all the handguns I have shot, and I’ve shot a LOT of them, there is no one pistol I would sooner trust my life to than a proper built and maintained 1911. Period.

I like and trust it so much, I sometimes carry TWO.